Final Member of the Class of 2007

Kedric Prince

06/06/2007

Mike Tisdale of Riverton (IL) is the last member of Head Coach Bruce Weber's recruiting class to talk with us before he starts summer school. Read here for InsideIllini.com's first interview with Tisdale.

Mike Tisdale is a very busy young man these days and he's about to get busier. "I leave for school on Thursday, orientation on Friday and school starts on Monday of next week."

Tisdale is a 6-11 center and listed here at Scout.com as a four-star recruit. He averaged 25.2 points, 12 rebounds and 8 blocked shots per contest. That could be why schools were starting to take notice, but because he grew up following the Illini it was an easy decision for Tisdale. He made reference that Illinois was a dream school for him. "I did have offers from SIU, St. Louis, Purdue and a few others around the area," said Tisdale.

Most of the Class of 2007 have been in contact with each other, but Tisdale admits he hasn't done a lot of that just yet. "I talked to Bill Cole and Demetri but I haven't talked to Rodney or Quinton yet, but I'll get to meet them real soon. I guess Bill will be my roommate for the summer and the rest of the year," Tisdale added.

The question that many Illini fans want to know is whether or not Tisdale will be a red-shirt candidate next season. "When Coach Weber recruited me he was honest and said that red-shirting would be a decision that's left up to me and my family, but he hasn't said a word to me about that right now."

Recruiting can make a coach look like the next best thing and often times a coach can recruit one of the nation's finest but that particular player doesn't pan out. Tisdale has high remarks for Weber from that standpoint. "I really think Coach Weber is doing a great job. He's putting all the right pieces to the puzzle together. I think we're going to be pretty good next year and the years to come. He's doing a good job," stated Tisdale.

Mike is a very polished big man with a great touch around the basket and will be a defensive presence against opposing teams. Tisdale needs to show he's able to compete with the other big men in practice and show signs he's able to do it for an entire Big Ten season. "I'm ready to get there and meet all my new teammates and get things going with school," Tisdale said. One thing we know for sure about Tisdale - he's coming to Champaign with the same mindset of all the members of the Class of 2007 - to compete and play.